§ 88. Brigadier-General SURTEESasked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the fact that certain house-property owners and their agents have given many of their tenants, with five or more years' leases, notice of an increase of rent to the extent of 10 per cent. over and above that covenanted for in the lease, and that this increase is either being paid through ignorance or through fear of legal and other proceedings; what steps he proposes to take to protect such tenants and to bring the offenders to justice; and, failing that, if he will issue a statement on the matter so that lease holders may know exactly where they stand and what steps they must take to protect themselves?
§ The ATTORNEY - GENERAL (Sir Gordon Hewart)I have not heard of any such cases as those referred to. The law on the point is perfectly clear, and is, I think, a sufficient protection to such tenants. Tenants who have leases for five or more years do not, as a rule, belong to a class requiring special protection owing to ignorance as to their legal rights. The last part of the question as to issuing a statement should, I think, be addressed to the Minister of Health. It is not the function of the Attorney-General to issue such statements.